Vehicle air conditioner

ABSTRACT

A vehicle air conditioner, including: a first duct having a first ventilation opening that is disposed on a first side in a width direction of a seat provided in a vehicle; a second duct having a second ventilation opening that is disposed on a second side in the width direction of the seat, the second side being an opposite side of the first side; and a third duct having a third ventilation opening that is disposed in front of the seat.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Divisional Application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/261,586 filed on Sep. 9, 2016 which claimspriority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-193058 filed on Sep.30, 2015 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-193059 filed on Sep.30, 2015, the entire contents of both of which are hereby incorporatedby reference.

BACKGROUND

The technology relates to an air conditioner to be mounted on a vehiclesuch as an automobile.

A vehicle such as an automobile is provided with an air conditioner toadjust a temperature inside an occupant compartment. Such a vehicle airconditioner is designed to blow out air and thus generate and dischargea strong airflow from a ventilation opening disposed at a front part orany other part of the occupant compartment to thereby adjust thetemperature of the occupant compartment as a whole.

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A)No. 2011-105120 discloses a vehicle air conditioner in which aventilation opening is so provided as to cause warm air to be blown outfrom the ventilation opening toward the lower body of an occupant, fromthe femoral part over the waist. Blowing the strong warm air onto theoccupant directly in this way makes it possible to warm the occupantdirectly.

SUMMARY

A vehicle air conditioner disclosed in JP-A No. 2011-105120 disposes aventilation opening in front of a seated occupant such that theventilation opening faces the rear. In such a situation, when warm airis blown onto the occupant from the ventilation opening disposed infront of the occupant, the warm air travels along the lower body fromthe femoral part over the waist of the occupant, following which thewarm air travels upward along the upper body of the occupant. This maycause the warm air to be blown onto the head such as the face of theoccupant, which may possibly give the occupant a sense of discomfort.

It is desirable to provide a vehicle air conditioner that makes itpossible to adjust a temperature felt by an occupant while restraining asense of discomfort given to the occupant.

An aspect of the technology provides a vehicle air conditioner thatincludes: a first duct having a first ventilation opening that isdisposed on first side in a width direction of a seat provided in avehicle, in which the second side is opposite side of the first side; asecond duct having a second ventilation opening that is disposed onsecond side in the width direction of the seat; and a third duct havinga third ventilation opening that is disposed in front of the seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic top view of a configuration of a vehicle to whichan air conditioner according to a first implementation (a firstconfiguration example) of the technology is applied.

FIG. 1B is a schematic side view of the configuration of the vehicle towhich the air conditioner according to the first implementation (thefirst configuration example) of the technology is applied.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a configuration of the air conditioner accordingto the first implementation (the first configuration example) of thetechnology.

FIG. 3A illustrates a flow of air as seen from the front when the airconditioner illustrated in FIG. 2 is used.

FIG. 3B illustrates the flow of air as seen from the top when the airconditioner illustrated in FIG. 2 is used.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a configuration of the air conditioner accordingto the first implementation (a second configuration example) of thetechnology.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a configuration of the air conditioner accordingto the first implementation (a third configuration example) of thetechnology.

FIG. 6A illustrates a flow of air as seen from the front when the airconditioner illustrated in FIG. 5 is used.

FIG. 6B illustrates the flow of air as seen from the top when the airconditioner illustrated in FIG. 5 is used.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a configuration of the air conditioner accordingto the first implementation (a fourth configuration example) of thetechnology.

FIG. 8A is a schematic top view of a configuration of a vehicle to whichan air conditioner according to a second implementation (a firstconfiguration example) of the technology is applied.

FIG. 8B is a schematic side view of the configuration of the vehicle towhich the air conditioner according to the second implementation (thefirst configuration example) of the technology is applied.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a configuration of the air conditioner accordingto the second implementation (the first configuration example) of thetechnology.

FIG. 10A illustrates a flow of air as seen from the front when the airconditioner illustrated in FIG. 9 is used.

FIG. 10B illustrates the flow of air as seen from the top when the airconditioner illustrated in FIG. 9 is used.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a configuration of the air conditioneraccording to the second implementation (a second configuration example)of the technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, some implementations of the technology are describedin detail with reference to the drawings. The description is given inthe following order.

-   1. Vehicle Air Conditioner (First Implementation)    -   1-1. First Configuration Example    -   1-2. Second Configuration Example    -   1-3. Third Configuration Example    -   1-4. Fourth Configuration Example-   2. Vehicle Air Conditioner (Second Implementation)    -   2-1. First Configuration Example    -   2-2. Second Configuration Example

1. Vehicle Air Conditioner (First Implementation)

A description is given first of a vehicle air conditioner according to afirst implementation of the technology. In the following description,the “vehicle air conditioner” may be simply referred to as an “airconditioner”. The air conditioner may have any one of configurations tobe described in first to fourth configuration examples as follows.

1-1. First Configuration Example

First, a description is given of an air conditioner 2 according to afirst configuration example.

Configuration of Vehicle to which Air Conditioner is Applied

A vehicle 1 to which the air conditioner 2 according to the firstconfiguration example is applied may include a configuration asdescribed below.

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B each schematically illustrate a configuration of thevehicle 1 to which the air conditioner 2 according to the firstconfiguration example is applied, in which FIG. 1A is a top view of thevehicle 1 and FIG. 1B is a side view of the vehicle 1.

Note that directions and dimensions in FIGS. 1A and 1B are defined asfollows. The left side and the right side of FIGS. 1A and 1B arerespectively defined as “front” and “rear” including their variants. Theupper side and the lower side of FIG. 1B are respectively defined as“up” and “down” including their variants. Further, a dimension in theup-down direction in FIG. 1A is defined as a “width”, whereas adimension in the up-down direction in FIG. 1B is defined as a “height”.These definitions apply to FIG. 2 and any subsequent drawing as well.

The vehicle 1 may be any vehicle and its type is not particularlylimited. The vehicle 1 to be described herein may be an automobilewithout limitation. An occupant compartment designed to allow anoccupant to board the vehicle 1 may be provided at a substantiallymiddle part in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1. A frontchamber designed to accommodate a fuel engine, etc., may be provided ata front part of the vehicle 1. A rear chamber available as a luggagecompartment, etc., may be provided at a rear part of the vehicle 1.

The occupant compartment may include a floor panel 11, a pair ofA-pillars 12, a pair of B-pillars 13, and a pair of C-pillars 14. Thefloor panel 11 may have a shape such as a substantially quadrangleshape. The A-pillars 12 may stand at respective front corners of thefloor panel 11. The B-pillars 13 may stand at respective ends that arelocated at a substantially middle part in the front-rear direction ofthe floor panel 11. The C-pillars 14 may stand at respective rearcorners of the floor panel 11. The pair of A-pillars 12 and the pair ofC-pillars 14 may be coupled to each other through a pair of roof rails15. The B-pillars 13 each may be joined to a substantially middle partin the front-rear direction of corresponding one of the roof rails 15. Aroof panel 16 may be disposed between the roof rails 15. The roof panel16 may have a shape such as a substantially quadrangle shape, and may bejoined to the roof rails 15.

For example, a toe board 17 may be disposed between the floor panel 11and the pair of A-pillars 12, and a dashboard 18 may be disposed abovethe toe board 17. A windshield 19 may be fitted in space surrounded bythe dashboard 18, the pair of A-pillars 12, and the roof panel 16. Arear window 20 may be fitted in space between the pair of C-pillars 14.

A pair of front doors may be disposed between the pair of A-pillars 12and the pair of B-pillars 13. The front doors each may be pivotablysupported by corresponding one of the A-pillars 12. A pair of rear doorsmay be disposed between the pair of B-pillars 13 and the pair ofC-pillars 14. The rear doors each may be pivotably supported bycorresponding one of the B-pillars 13. Note that the front doors and therear doors are unillustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. A pair of side sills 21may be joined to both ends in the width direction of the floor panel 11.

The occupant compartment provided in the vehicle 1 may thus form abox-like space having a stereoscopic shape such as a substantiallyrectangular parallelepiped shape.

A center tunnel 22 may be provided at the substantially middle part inthe width direction of the floor panel 11. For example, the centertunnel 22 may protrude toward inside of the occupant compartment, andextend in the front-rear direction. A drive shaft designed to transmitdrive force derived from the fuel engine to rear wheels, and any othermember, may be disposed below the center tunnel 22.

Front seats may be attached to a front part of the floor panel 11. Forexample, the front seats may include two seats, i.e., a driver's seat 23and a navigator's seat 24, which are disposed side-by-side in the widthdirection. The driver's seat 23 may be available for a driver, whereasthe navigator's seat 24 may be available for a fellow passenger whotravels with the driver. For example, the driver's seat 23 may include aseating section 41 and a backrest section 42 attached to the seatingsection 41. The navigator's seat 24 may include the seating section 41and the backrest section 42 as with the driver's seat 23, for example.The center tunnel 22 described above may be disposed between the seatingsection 41 of the driver's seat 23 and the seating section 41 of thenavigator's seat 24. A shift lever 25, a parking brake lever, a consolebox 26 that serves as an interior member, etc., may be disposed abovethe center tunnel 22. The console box 26 may be disposed on first sideof the navigator's seat 24, e.g., on the side close to the center of theoccupant compartment. Note that the parking brake lever is unillustratedin FIGS. 1A and 1B.

For example, the dashboard 18 extending in the width direction may bedisposed in front of each of the driver's seat 23 and the navigator'sseat 24. A steering wheel 27 may be so disposed in front of the driver'sseat 23 as to protrude rearward from the dashboard 18.

A rear seat may be attached to a rear part of the floor panel 11. Forexample, the rear seat may include a single seat, i.e., a bench seat 28,which may be available for multiple occupants. The bench seat 28 mayinclude the seating section 41 and the backrest section 42 as with thedriver's seat 23 described above, and may have a width equivalent to awidth of the floor panel 11, for example. The bench seat 28 as a seatavailable for the multiple occupants as mentioned above may allow forseating, for example, up to three occupants.

In general, a vehicle such as an automobile often employs the fuelengine as a power source. However, a hybrid drive system that combinesthe fuel engine and an electric motor may sometimes be employed toaddress regulations on carbon dioxide emissions or any otherrequirement. Sometimes, the electric motor may be employed alone as thepower source to address the regulations or any other requirement.

The vehicle that utilizes the electric motor may have no fuel enginemounted thereon which serves both as a heat source and the power source.There is also a case where the vehicle is mounted with the fuel engine,but the fuel engine does not operate constantly. In such cases, electricpower derived from a battery mounted on the vehicle is used to providecool air or warm air for air conditioning of the occupant compartment.However, consuming the electric power of the battery mounted on thevehicle for purpose of air conditioning may lead to a decrease inmileage of the vehicle and may arise a necessity to suppress travelingperformance of the vehicle such as speed.

What is needed in an air conditioner for the vehicle is to improveconsumption energy of the air conditioner. In particular, an occupantwho uses the vehicle tends to feel cold in the lower body such as thetoes in winter months, for example.

One implementation therefore proposes the air conditioner 2 that makesit possible to achieve air conditioning for each occupant, instead ofair-conditioning the inside of the occupant compartment provided in thevehicle 1 as a whole. The air conditioner 2 may be a so-called personalair conditioner. Using the air conditioner 2 makes it possible to reducea necessity of air-conditioning the inside of the occupant compartmentas a whole. Further, combined use of an air conditioner that performsair-conditioning of the inside of the occupant compartment as a wholeand the air conditioner 2 according to the implementation allows for areduction in the consumption energy of the air conditioner 2 as well,owing to a reduction in a burden of performing the air-conditioning ofthe inside of the occupant compartment as a whole.

Configuration of Air Conditioner

The air conditioner 2 according to the first configuration example mayhave a configuration as described below.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the configuration of the air conditioner 2according to the first configuration example.

The air conditioner 2 may include an inner duct 51, an inner fan 52, anouter duct 54, an outer fan 55, a front duct 57, a front fan 58, atemperature controller 61, and a controller 71. In one implementation ofthe technology, the inner duct 51, the outer duct 54, and the front duct57 may respectively serve as a “first duct”, a “second duct”, and a“third duct”.

The temperature controller 61 may have a heater 63, a Peltier device 64,a temperature sensor 65, etc., inside a unit box 62. The heater 63 mayheat air inside the unit box 62 by means of electric power of a batterymounted on the vehicle 1. The Peltier device 64 may cool the air insidethe unit box 62 by means of the electric power of the battery mounted onthe vehicle 1. The temperature controller 61 may be coupled to a duct ofany other air conditioner that performs air conditioning of the insideof the occupant compartment as a whole, and may thereby receive a supplyof warmed air or cooled air from that air conditioner. The temperaturecontroller 61 may also receive a supply of warming medium such as warmwater or refrigerant such as cooling water from the fuel engine or anyother member. The temperature sensor 65 may detect a temperature of theair inside the unit box 62.

The inner duct 51 may include a first end having an inner ventilationopening 53, and a second end coupled to the unit box 62 of thetemperature controller 61. In one implementation of the technology, theinner ventilation opening 53 may serve as a “first ventilation opening”.A wind direction adjuster such as a louver may be provided at the innerventilation opening 53. The inner fan 52 may be provided inside theinner duct 51. For example, the inner fan 52 may allow the inner duct 51to take in air at low speed and blow out the air at low speed.

The outer duct 54 may include a first end having an outer ventilationopening 56, and a second end coupled to the unit box 62 of thetemperature controller 61. In one implementation of the technology, theouter ventilation opening 56 may serve as a “second ventilationopening”. A wind direction adjuster such as a louver may be provided atthe outer ventilation opening 56. The outer fan 55 may be providedinside the outer duct 54. For example, the outer fan 55 may allow theouter duct 54 to take in air at low speed and blow out the air at lowspeed.

The front duct 57 may include a first end having a front ventilationopening 59, and a second end coupled to the unit box 62 of thetemperature controller 61. In one implementation of the technology, thefront ventilation opening 59 may serve as a “third ventilation opening”.A wind direction adjuster such as a louver may be provided at the frontventilation opening 59. The front fan 58 may be provided inside thefront duct 57. For example, the front fan 58 may allow the front duct 57to take in air at low speed.

The controller 71 may control an operation of the air conditioner 2. Thecontroller 71 may include a device such as a microcomputer. Thecontroller 71 may be integrated with any other controller provided inthe vehicle 1 to configure a single microcomputer. The microcomputer maybe, for example, an engine control unit (ECU) or any other suitabledevice. The controller 71 may be coupled to the heater 63, the Peltierdevice 64, the temperature sensor 65, the inner fan 52, the outer fan55, the front fan 58, etc.

The air conditioner 2 may be provided for each of the seats on which therespective occupants are to be seated. In one implementation, the airconditioner 2 may be provided for the navigator's seat 24.

In one specific but non-limiting example, the inner ventilation opening53 may be disposed at a location that is on the first side in the widthdirection of the navigator's seat 24, e.g., on the side close to theconsole box 26, and that is on a side face of the console box 26, forexample. The side face of the console box 26 may be located on the sideclose to the navigator's seat 24. In other words, the inner ventilationopening 53 may be provided separately from the navigator's seat 24. Forexample, the inner ventilation opening 53 may be disposed at a positionhigher than a position of the seating section 41 (a seating surface) ofthe navigator's seat 24.

The outer ventilation opening 56 may be disposed at a location that ison second side in the width direction of the navigator's seat 24, e.g.,on the side far from the console box 26, for example. In other words,the outer ventilation opening 56 may be provided separately from thenavigator's seat 24. The outer ventilation opening 56 may be disposed ata position that is on the outside of the seating section 41 of thenavigator's seat 24, i.e., on the side far from the center of thevehicle 1 in the width direction, and that is higher than the positionof the seating section 41 (the seating surface).

The front ventilation opening 59 may be disposed in front of thenavigator's seat 24. In one specific but non-limiting example, the frontventilation opening 59 may be provided on the toe board 17 that islocated at the feet of the occupant when the occupant is seated on thenavigator's seat 24. For example, the front ventilation opening 59 maybe disposed at a position lower than the position of the seating section41 (the seating surface) of the navigator's seat 24.

The temperature controller 61 may be provided inside the console box 26,and the inner duct 51 may be provided inside the console box 26accordingly as with the temperature controller 61, for example. Theouter duct 54 may be led out from the console box 26, and extend belowthe seating section 41 of the navigator's seat 24 to reach the far sideof the seating section 41. The front duct 57 may be led out from theconsole box 26, and extend along the center tunnel 22 toward the frontto reach the toe board 17.

Operation of Air Conditioner

The air conditioner 2 according to the first configuration example mayoperate as described below.

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B each illustrate a flow of air when the airconditioner 2 according to the first configuration example illustratedin FIG. 2 is used, in which FIG. 3A is a front view of the vehicle 1 andFIG. 3B is a top view of the vehicle 1.

The controller 71 may obtain a temperature detected by the temperaturesensor 65. The controller 71 may control the heater 63 to turn on andoff the heater 63 such that the heater 63 is at a desired temperature.The controller 71 may control the Peltier device 64 to turn on and offthe Peltier device 64 such that the Peltier device 64 is at a desiredtemperature. A target temperature to be achieved by the control oftemperature performed by the controller 71 is not particularly limitedas long as a temperature to be felt by the occupant becomes high duringwinter season, and as long as the temperature to be felt by the occupantbecomes low during summer season. For example, the target temperaturewhere heating is required, such as the winter season, may be about 20degrees centigrade.

The controller 71 may operate each of the inner fan 52, the outer fan55, and the front fan 58 in accordance with a user's operation to startan air-conditioning control. Upon the air-conditioning control, thecontroller 71 may cause each of the inner fan 52, the outer fan 55, andthe front fan 58 to rotate at low speed.

The speed of rotation of the inner fan 52 may be so set that a flow rateof an airflow to be discharged from the inner duct 51 falls within arange from 0.01 meters per second to 6 meters per second, withoutlimitation. The speed of rotation of the outer fan 55 may be so set thata flow rate of an airflow to be discharged from the outer duct 54 fallswithin a range from 0.01 meters per second to 6 meters per second,without limitation. Setting each of the flow rates to be equal to orless than 6 meters per second in this way makes it possible to keep adecrease in the temperature to be felt by the occupant owing to thoseairflows by about one degree centigrade or less.

The speed of rotation of the front fan 58 may be so set as to be a speedthat corresponds to a total of the flow rates, namely, the flow ratethat corresponds to the speed of rotation of the inner fan 52 asdescribed above and the flow rate that corresponds to the speed ofrotation of the outer fan 55 as described above, without limitation.This makes it possible to generate a weak airflow that travels from theinner fan 52 to the front fan 58 and a weak airflow that travels fromthe outer fan 55 to the front fan 58. To set the speed of rotation ofthe front fan 58 such that a flow rate of the airflow to be introducedinto the front duct 57 falls within a range from 0.01 meters per secondto 6 meters per second, it is preferable, without limitation, that thespeed of rotation of the inner fan 52, i.e., the flow rate of theairflow to be discharged from the inner duct 51, be kept even lower, andthat the speed of rotation of the outer fan 55, i.e., the flow rate ofthe airflow to be discharged from the outer duct 54, be kept even lower.It is also preferable, without limitation, that the speed of rotation ofthe inner fan 52, i.e., the flow rate of the airflow to be dischargedfrom the inner duct 51, be the same as the speed of rotation of theouter fan 55, i.e., the flow rate of the airflow to be discharged fromthe outer duct 54. In an alternative implementation, however, the speedof rotation of the inner fan 52, i.e., the flow rate of the airflow tobe discharged from the inner duct 51, may be different from the speed ofrotation of the outer fan 55, i.e., the flow rate of the airflow to bedischarged from the outer duct 54.

With this configuration, the airflow having been subjected totemperature adjustment by the temperature controller 61 may bedischarged from the inner ventilation opening 53, and the airflow havingbeen subjected to temperature adjustment by the temperature controller61 may be discharged from the outer ventilation opening 56. The airflowsdischarged from the inner ventilation opening 53 and the outerventilation opening 56 so travel toward the seating section 41 as tofall onto the seating section 41 to be merged above the seating surfaceof the seating section 41. The thus-merged airflows may remain above theseating surface.

To achieve the merging and the remaining of the airflows, it ispreferable, without limitation, that the flow rate of the airflow to bedischarged from the inner ventilation opening 53 and the flow rate ofthe airflow to be discharged from the outer ventilation opening 56 eachbe at a velocity that allows the airflow to so travel toward the seatingsection 41 as to fall onto the seating section 41 after the airflow isdischarged from each of the inner ventilation opening 53 and the outerventilation opening 56. The details on the flow rate of each of theairflows are as described above.

The front ventilation opening 59 may introduce the airflow dischargedfrom each of the inner ventilation opening 53 and the outer ventilationopening 56, i.e., may take in the air present in front of the seatingsection 41 of the navigator's seat 24. Thus, the air remaining above theseating surface of the seating section 41 may travel to the front alongthe seating surface, following which the air may further travel to thefront of the seating section 41 to thereby travel toward the frontventilation opening 59.

The air conditioner 2 may discharge the weak airflows from the bothsides in the width direction of the navigator's seat 24 (the seatingsection 41) in this manner, making it possible to generate the air thatremains above the seating surface of the seating section 41 and causethe airflow that remains above the seating surface to travel slowlytoward the front of the seating section 41. This in turn generates anairflow that slowly travels along the lower body of the occupant seatedon the navigator's seat 24 from the femoral part to the toes, making itpossible to so form a layer of air whose temperature has been adjustedas to cover the lower body of the occupant as a whole by means of thatairflow.

Workings and Effects of Air Conditioner

The air conditioner 2 according to the first configuration example asdescribed above may discharge the weak airflow from each of the innerventilation opening 53 and the outer ventilation opening 56 by providingthe inner ventilation opening 53 and the outer ventilation opening 56 onthe both sides in the width direction of the navigator's seat 24 (theseating section 41). This makes it easier for the low-speed airflowdischarged from the inner ventilation opening 53 and the low-speedairflow discharged from the outer ventilation opening 56 to remain abovethe seating surface of the seating section 41 after those airflows aremerged above the seating section 41 (the seating surface). The airflowthat remains above the seating surface is supplied to the femoral partof the occupant seated on the navigator's seat 24 and remains in thevicinity of the femoral part easily. Further, the air conditioner 2 mayallow the front ventilation opening 59 to introduce the airflow weaklyby providing the front ventilation opening 59 in front of thenavigator's seat 24 (the seating section 41). Hence, the airflow thatremains above the seating surface travels toward the front of thenavigator's seat 24.

As a result, the airflow travels along the lower body of the occupantseated on the navigator's seat 24 and hence travels from the femoralpart to the toes of the occupant, meaning that the lower body as a wholeincluding the femoral part, knees, shins, ankles, and toes of theoccupant is covered with the temperature-adjusted airflow. Thus, thetemperature to be felt by the lower body of the occupant as a whole isadjusted both evenly on right and left sides and totally, making itpossible to suppress an occurrence of cold lower body such as the coldfemoral part of the occupant totally. Hence, it is possible to adjustthe temperature to be felt by the occupant while restraining a sense ofdiscomfort given to the occupant.

It is to be noted that, owing to the utilization of the slow, weakairflow, an excessive deprivation of heat from the occupant attributedto the airflow is suppressed as compared with a case where a fast,strong airflow is utilized. However, even upon the utilization of theslow, weak airflow, a temperature of the airflow may be adjusted toprevent the heat from being deprived excessively from the occupant whenthe excessive deprivation of heat from the occupant may possibly occurdue to that airflow.

It is to be also noted that the airflow may travel toward the front ofthe navigator's seat 24 after the airflow travels toward the navigator'sseat 24 from the both sides in the width direction, making it difficultfor the airflow to travel along the upper body of the occupant to reachthe head or any surrounding part of the head unlike a case where anairflow travels toward the occupant from the front of the occupant.Hence, it makes it difficult for the airflow to be blown onto the faceof the occupant, and thereby makes it difficult to give the occupant asense of discomfort.

In particular, the console box 26 may be provided on the first side ofthe navigator's seat 24 and the inner ventilation opening 53 may beprovided on the side face of the console box 26 in the air conditioner 2according to the first configuration example. This configuration makesit possible to easily provide the inner ventilation opening 53 at aposition higher than a position of the femoral part of the occupantseated on the navigator's seat 24 by taking advantage of a height of theconsole box 26.

The temperature controller 61 may allow for warming and the cooling ofthe air, and may be provided inside the console box 26. Thisconfiguration sufficiently reduces a distance from the temperaturecontroller 61 to the inner ventilation opening 53, i.e., reduces alength of the inner duct 51, and also sufficiently reduces a distancefrom the temperature controller 61 to the outer ventilation opening 56,i.e., reduces a length of the outer duct 54. Thus, it is possible tosufficiently suppress a heat loss in each of the inner duct 51 and theouter duct 54. Further, providing the temperature controller 61 insidethe console box 26 allows for installation of the temperature controller61 unexposed around the navigator's seat 24.

The airflow discharged from each of the inner ventilation opening 53 andthe outer ventilation opening 56 may be introduced into the frontventilation opening 59, following which the airflow introduced into thefront ventilation opening 59 may travel through the front duct 57 toreturn to the temperature controller 61. This configuration allows theairflow to circulate around the navigator's seat 24, making it possibleto suppress an amount of heat required to adjust the temperature of theairflow again. It is also possible to significantly reduce the totalamount of heat required to continuously adjust the temperature of theairflow upon continuous operation of the temperature controller 61.

Hence, it is possible to reduce an amount of energy to be used for theair conditioning, without impairing comfort derived from a factor suchas the temperature to be felt by the occupant.

1-2. Second Configuration Example

A description is given next of the air conditioner 2 according to asecond configuration example.

The air conditioner 2 according to the second configuration examplediffers from the air conditioner 2 according to the foregoing firstconfiguration example, in that the navigator's seat 24 has both theinner ventilation opening 53 and the outer ventilation opening 56. Aconfiguration and an operation of the air conditioner 2 according to thesecond configuration example are similar to those of the air conditioner2 according to the first configuration example, with the exception of aconfiguration and an operation to be described below.

In the following, a description is mainly given on differences betweenthe air conditioner 2 according to the second configuration example andthe air conditioner 2 according to the first configuration example. Fordescription purpose, reference numerals same as those used to describethe air conditioner 2 according to the first configuration example areused to refer to the like elements.

FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration of the air conditioner 2 according tothe second configuration example and corresponds to FIG. 2. In otherwords, a flow of air illustrated in FIG. 4 is substantially similar tothat illustrated in FIG. 2.

For example, the inner ventilation opening 53 may be disposed at alocation that is on the first side in the width direction of thenavigator's seat 24, and that is on the backrest section 42 of thenavigator's seat 24. For example, the outer ventilation opening 56 maybe disposed at a location that is on the second side in the widthdirection of the navigator's seat 24, and that is on the backrestsection 42 of the navigator's seat 24. The backrest section 42 may havea pair of protrusions so protruded toward the front as to support thewaist of the occupant while sandwiching the waist from right and leftsides. It is preferable, without limitation, that the inner ventilationopening 53 be provided on one of the protrusions, and that the outerventilation opening 56 be provided on the other of the protrusions. Theinner duct 51 and the outer duct 54 each may be led out from the consolebox 26, and so extend as to reach the backrest section 42 of thenavigator's seat 24.

In the air conditioner 2 according to the second configuration example,the inner ventilation opening 53 and the outer ventilation opening 56may be so provided on the backrest section 42 of the navigator's seat 24that the inner ventilation opening 53 and the outer ventilation opening56 are disposed on the both sides in the width direction of thenavigator's seat 24. The configuration according to the secondconfiguration example also causes the weak airflow to be discharged fromeach of the inner ventilation opening 53 and the outer ventilationopening 56, and causes the weak airflow to be introduced into the frontventilation opening 59, making it possible to allow the lower body as awhole including the femoral part, knees, shins, ankles, and toes of theoccupant seated on the navigator's seat 24 to be covered with thetemperature-adjusted airflow. Thus, the temperature to be felt by thelower body of the occupant as a whole is adjusted both evenly on rightand left sides and totally, making it possible to suppress an occurrenceof cold lower body such as the cold femoral part of the occupanttotally. Hence, as with the air conditioner 2 according to the firstconfiguration example, it is possible to adjust the temperature to befelt by the occupant while restraining a sense of discomfort given tothe occupant.

The air conditioner 2 according to the second configuration exampleprovides both the inner ventilation opening 53 and the outer ventilationopening 56 on the backrest section 42 of the navigator's seat 24 asdescribed above. In an alternative implementation, however, one of theinner ventilation opening 53 and the outer ventilation opening 56 may beprovided separately from the navigator's seat 24 as illustrated in FIG.2. For example, the inner ventilation opening 53 may be provided on theconsole box 26 or any other location other than the navigator's seat 24as with the air conditioner 2 according to the first configurationexample.

1-3. Third Configuration Example

A description is given next of the air conditioner 2 according to athird configuration example.

The air conditioner 2 according to the third configuration examplediffers from the air conditioner 2 according to the foregoing firstconfiguration example in operation of the outer fan 55. The outer fan 55may be controlled by the controller 71 to introduce the airflow from theouter ventilation opening 56. A configuration and an operation of theair conditioner 2 according to the third configuration example aresimilar to those of the air conditioner 2 according to the firstconfiguration example, with the exception of a configuration and anoperation to be described below.

In the following, a description is mainly given on differences betweenthe air conditioner 2 according to the third configuration example andthe air conditioner 2 according to the first configuration example. Fordescription purpose, reference numerals same as those used to describethe air conditioner 2 according to the first configuration example areused to refer to the like elements.

FIG. 5 illustrates a configuration of the air conditioner 2 according tothe third configuration example and corresponds to FIG. 2. FIG. 6A andFIG. 6B each illustrate a flow of air when the air conditioner 2illustrated in FIG. 5 is used, and correspond respectively to FIG. 3Aand FIG. 3B.

The controller 71 may operate the inner fan 52 at low speed, causing theinner duct 51 to discharge the weak airflow from the inner ventilationopening 53. The controller 71 may also operate each of the outer fan 55and the front fan 58 at low speed, causing the outer duct 54 tointroduce the airflow, discharged from the inner duct 51, from the outerventilation opening 56 and causing the front duct 57 to introduce theairflow, discharged from the inner duct 51, from the front ventilationopening 59.

With this configuration, a flow of air is generated between the innerventilation opening 53 and the outer ventilation opening 56 and betweenthe inner ventilation opening 53 and the front ventilation opening 59.More specifically, the inner duct 51 may discharge the airflow from theinner ventilation opening 53 and the outer duct 54 may introduce theairflow from the outer ventilation opening 56, thereby generating theflow of air between the inner ventilation opening 53 and the outerventilation opening 56 in front of the occupant seated on thenavigator's seat 24. Further, the front duct 57 may introduce theairflow from the front ventilation opening 59, thereby causing a part ofthe air that flows between the inner ventilation opening 53 and theouter ventilation opening 56 to move toward the front ventilationopening 59.

The speed of rotation of the inner fan 52 may be so set that a flow rateof the airflow to be discharged from the inner duct 51 falls within arange from 0.01 meters per second to 6 meters per second, withoutlimitation. The speed of rotation of each of the front fan 58 and theouter fan 55 may be so set that a total of the flow rates, namely, theflow rate of the airflow to be introduced by the front duct 57 and theflow rate of the airflow to be introduced by the outer duct 54,corresponds to the flow rate of the airflow to be discharged by theinner duct 51, without limitation. Setting each of the flow rates inthis way makes it possible to generate the weak airflow that travelstoward the outer fan 55 from the inner fan 52 and the weak airflow thattravels toward the front fan 58 from the inner fan 52. To increaseintake performance of the front ventilation opening 59 that is separatedaway from the outer ventilation opening 56, the speed of rotation of thefront fan 58, i.e., the flow rate of the airflow to be introduced by thefront duct 57, may be made higher than the speed of rotation of theouter fan 55, i.e., the flow rate of the airflow to be introduced by theouter duct 54.

In the air conditioner 2 according to the third configuration example,the outer duct 54 may introduce the weak airflow from the outerventilation opening 56, thereby generating the weak airflow from theinner ventilation opening 53 toward the outer ventilation opening 56,i.e., generating, in front of the occupant seated on the navigator'sseat 24, the weak airflow that flows along the upper body and the lowerbody including the femoral part of the occupant. Further, the front duct57 provided in front of the navigator's seat 24 weakly introduces theairflow from the front ventilation opening 59. Thus, the configurationaccording to the third configuration example causes the airflow thattravels above the seating section 41 of the navigator's seat 24 totravel from a region above the seating section 41 toward the front,making it possible to allow the lower body as a whole including thefemoral part, knees, shins, ankles, and toes of the occupant to becovered with the temperature-adjusted airflow. Thus, the temperature tobe felt by the lower body of the occupant as a whole is adjusted bothevenly on right and left sides and totally, making it possible tosuppress an occurrence of cold lower body such as the cold femoral partof the occupant totally. Hence, as with the air conditioner 2 accordingto the first configuration example, it is possible to adjust thetemperature to be felt by the occupant while restraining a sense ofdiscomfort given to the occupant.

1-4. Fourth Configuration Example

A description is given next of the air conditioner 2 according to afourth configuration example.

The air conditioner 2 according to the fourth configuration examplediffers from the air conditioner 2 according to the foregoing firstconfiguration example, in that the front ventilation opening 59 isprovided at a lower part of the dashboard 18. A configuration and anoperation of the air conditioner 2 according to the fourth configurationexample are similar to those of the air conditioner 2 according to thefirst configuration example, with the exception of a configuration andan operation to be described below.

In the following, a description is mainly given on differences betweenthe air conditioner 2 according to the fourth configuration example andthe air conditioner 2 according to the first configuration example. Fordescription purpose, reference numerals same as those used to describethe air conditioner 2 according to the first configuration example areused to refer to the like elements.

FIG. 7 illustrates a configuration of the air conditioner 2 according tothe fourth configuration example and corresponds to FIG. 2. In otherwords, a flow of air illustrated in FIG. 7 is substantially similar tothat illustrated in FIG. 2.

For example, the front ventilation opening 59 may be provided at a lowerpart of the dashboard 18 that is disposed above the toe board 17. Thelower part of the dashboard 18 may be, for example, a lower face of thedashboard 18. The front duct 57 may be led out from the unit box 62 andextend to the dashboard 18.

In the air conditioner 2 according to the fourth configuration example,the front ventilation opening 59 is provided at the lower part of thedashboard 18, making it possible to so form a layer of air as to coverthe lower body of the occupant seated on the navigator's seat 24 as awhole by means of the airflow, as with the examples in which the frontventilation opening 59 is provided on the toe board 17. Further, thefront ventilation opening 59 is provided at the lower part of thedashboard 18 which is above the toe board 17 and less visible to theoccupant, making it possible to provide the front ventilation opening 59without giving an impact on an interior design of the occupantcompartment. Moreover, in the air conditioner 2 according to the fourthconfiguration example, the front ventilation opening 59 is provided onthe dashboard 18 that serves as an interior member of the vehicle 1instead of providing the front ventilation opening 59 on the toe board17 that serves as a component of the vehicle 1 itself, making itpossible to provide the front ventilation opening 59 easily withoutgiving an impact on property such as rigidity of the vehicle 1. Hence,as with the air conditioner 2 according to the first configurationexample, it is possible to adjust the temperature to be felt by theoccupant while restraining a sense of discomfort given to the occupant.

In an alternative implementation, the front ventilation opening 59 maybe provided at any location other than the foregoing dashboard 18, suchas the side sills 21 and the floor panel 11. It is preferable, however,that measures be taken to prevent raindrops and dusts from enteringinside the front duct 57 easily when providing the front ventilationopening 59 at the side sills 21, the floor panel 11, or any otherlocation. It is also preferable that measures be taken to prevent thefront ventilation opening 59 from being conspicuous to the occupants andso as not to give an impact on the interior design of the occupantcompartment accordingly, especially when providing the front ventilationopening 59 at a middle part or a rear end part of any side sill 21instead of providing the front ventilation opening 59 at a front endpart of any side sill 21.

2. Vehicle Air Conditioner (Second Implementation)

A description is given next of a vehicle air conditioner according to asecond implementation of the technology. The air conditioner may haveany one of configurations to be described in first and secondconfiguration examples as follows.

2-1. First Configuration Example

First, a description is given of an air conditioner 102 according to afirst configuration example.

Configuration of Vehicle to which Air Conditioner is Applied

A vehicle 101 to which the air conditioner 102 according to the firstconfiguration example is applied may include a configuration asdescribed below.

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B each schematically illustrate a configuration of thevehicle 101 to which the air conditioner 102 according to the firstconfiguration example is applied, in which FIG. 8A is a top view of thevehicle 101 and FIG. 8B is a side view of the vehicle 101. Note thatdefinitions on directions and dimensions are similar to those of thefirst implementation as described above.

The vehicle 101 may have a configuration substantially similar to theconfiguration of the vehicle 1 described in the first implementationwith reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B.

The vehicle 101 may include the occupant compartment, the front chamber,and the rear chamber. The occupant compartment may include a floor panel111, a pair of A-pillars 112, a pair of B-pillars 113, and a pair ofC-pillars 114. The pair of A-pillars 112 and the pair of C-pillars 114may be coupled to each other through a pair of roof rails 115. A roofpanel 116 may be joined to the roof rails 115.

For example, a toe board 117 may be disposed between the floor panel 111and the pair of A-pillars 112, and a dashboard 118 may be disposed abovethe toe board 117. A windshield 119 may be fitted in space surrounded bythe dashboard 118, the pair of A-pillars 112, and the roof panel 116. Arear window 120 may be fitted in space between the pair of C-pillars114. A pair of side sills 121 may be joined to both ends in the widthdirection of the floor panel 111.

A center tunnel 122 may be provided on the floor panel 111. A driveshaft and any other member may be disposed below the center tunnel 122.

Front seats may be attached to a front part of the floor panel 111. Forexample, the front seats may include two seats, i.e., a driver's seat123 and a navigator's seat 124. For example, the driver's seat 123 mayinclude a seating section 141 and a backrest section 142 attached to theseating section 141. The navigator's seat 124 may include the seatingsection 141 and the backrest section 142 as with the driver's seat 123,for example. The center tunnel 122 described above may be disposedbetween the driver's seat 123 and the navigator's seat 124. A shiftlever 125, a parking brake lever, a console box 126 that serves as aninterior member, etc., may be disposed above the center tunnel 122.

For example, the dashboard 118 may be disposed in front of each of thedriver's seat 123 and the navigator's seat 124. A steering wheel 127 maybe disposed in front of the driver's seat 123.

A rear seat may be attached to a rear part of the floor panel 111. Forexample, the rear seat may include a single seat, i.e., a bench seat128. The bench seat 128 may include the seating section 141 and thebackrest section 142 as with the driver's seat 123 described above, andmay have a width equivalent to a width of the floor panel 111, forexample.

As described in the foregoing first implementation, what is needed in anair conditioner for the vehicle is to improve consumption energy of theair conditioner. In particular, an occupant who uses the vehicle tendsto feel hot in the upper body such as the neck and the armpit in summermonths, for example.

One implementation therefore proposes, as with the foregoing firstimplementation, the air conditioner 102 (which may be a so-calledpersonal air conditioner) that makes it possible to achieve airconditioning for each occupant, instead of air-conditioning the insideof the occupant compartment provided in the vehicle 101 as a whole.Using the air conditioner 102 makes it possible to reduce a necessity ofair-conditioning the inside of the occupant compartment as a whole.Further, combined use of an air conditioner that performsair-conditioning of the inside of the occupant compartment as a wholeand the air conditioner 102 according to the implementation allows for areduction in the consumption energy of the air conditioner 102 as well,owing to a reduction in a burden of performing the air-conditioning ofthe inside of the occupant compartment as a whole.

Configuration of Air Conditioner

The air conditioner 102 according to the first configuration example mayhave a configuration as described below.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the configuration of the air conditioner 102according to the first configuration example.

The air conditioner 102 may include an inner blow duct 151, an innerblow fan 152, an outer blow duct 154, an outer blow fan 155, a frontblow duct 157, a front blow fan 158, a temperature controller 161, and acontroller 171. In one implementation of the technology, the inner blowduct 151, the outer blow duct 154, and the front blow duct 157 mayrespectively serve as a “first duct”, a “second duct”, and a “thirdduct”.

The temperature controller 161 may have a heater 163, a Peltier device164, a temperature sensor 165, etc., inside a unit box 162. The heater163 may heat air inside the unit box 162 by means of electric power of abattery mounted on the vehicle 101. The Peltier device 164 may cool theair inside the unit box 162 by means of the electric power of thebattery mounted on the vehicle 101. Details on the temperaturecontroller 161 besides these may be similar to those of the temperaturecontroller 61 described above, for example.

The inner blow duct 151 may include a first end having an inner blowopening 153, and a second end coupled to the unit box 162 of thetemperature controller 161. In one implementation of the technology, theinner blow opening 153 may serve as a “first ventilation opening”. Awind direction adjuster such as a louver may be provided at the innerblow opening 153. The inner blow fan 152 may be provided inside theinner blow duct 151. For example, the inner blow fan 152 may allow theinner blow duct 151 to take in air at low speed and blow out the air atlow speed.

The outer blow duct 154 may include a first end having an outer blowopening 156, and a second end coupled to the unit box 162 of thetemperature controller 161. In one implementation of the technology, theouter blow opening 156 may serve as a “second ventilation opening”. Awind direction adjuster such as a louver may be provided at the outerblow opening 156. The outer blow fan 155 may be provided inside theouter blow duct 154. For example, the outer blow fan 155 may allow theouter blow duct 154 to take in air at low speed and blow out the air atlow speed.

The front blow duct 157 may include a first end having a front blowopening 159, and a second end coupled to the unit box 162 of thetemperature controller 161. In one implementation of the technology, thefront blow opening 159 may serve as a “third ventilation opening”. Awind direction adjuster such as a louver may be provided at the frontblow opening 159. The front blow fan 158 may be provided inside thefront blow duct 157. For example, the front blow fan 158 may allow thefront blow duct 157 to take in air at low speed and blow out the air atlow speed.

The controller 171 may control an operation of the air conditioner 102.Details on the controller 171 may be similar to those of the controller71 described above, for example. The controller 171 may be coupled tothe heater 163, the Peltier device 164, the temperature sensor 165, theinner blow fan 152, the outer blow fan 155, the front blow fan 158, etc.

The air conditioner 102 may be provided for each of the seats on whichthe respective occupants are to be seated, for example. In oneimplementation, the air conditioner 102 may be provided for thenavigator's seat 124.

In one specific but non-limiting example, the inner blow opening 153 maybe disposed at a location that is on first side in the width directionof the navigator's seat 124, e.g., on the side close to the console box126, and that is on a side face of the console box 126, for example. Theside face of the console box 126 may be located on the side close to thenavigator's seat 124. In other words, the inner blow opening 153 may beprovided separately from the navigator's seat 124. For example, theinner blow opening 153 may be disposed at a position higher than aposition of the seating section 141 (a seating surface) of thenavigator's seat 124.

The outer blow opening 156 may be disposed at a location that is onsecond side in the width direction of the navigator's seat 124, e.g., onthe side far from the console box 126, for example. The outer blowopening 156 may be provided separately from the navigator's seat 124.The outer blow opening 156 may be disposed at a position higher than theposition of the seating section 141 (the seating surface) of thenavigator's seat 124.

The front blow opening 159 may be disposed in front of the navigator'sseat 124. For example, the front blow opening 159 may be provided on thedashboard 118. For example, the front blow opening 159 may be sodisposed as to face the rear at a position higher than the position ofthe seating section 141 (the seating surface) of the navigator's seat124. The front blow opening 159 may also have a plurality of slits thatextend in the width direction. The front blow opening 159 may have awidth that corresponds to a width of the navigator's seat 124.

The temperature controller 161 may be provided inside the console box126, and the inner blow duct 151 may be provided inside the console box126 accordingly as with the temperature controller 161, for example. Theouter blow duct 154 may be led out from the console box 126, and extendbelow the seating section 141 of the navigator's seat 124 to reach thefar side of the seating section 141. The front blow duct 157 may be ledout from the console box 126, and extend along the center tunnel 122 toreach the dashboard 118.

Operation of Air Conditioner

The air conditioner 102 according to the first configuration example mayoperate as described below.

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B each illustrate a flow of air when the airconditioner 102 according to the first configuration example illustratedin FIG. 9 is used, in which FIG. 10A is a front view of the vehicle 101and FIG. 10B is a top view of the vehicle 101.

The controller 171 may obtain a temperature detected by the temperaturesensor 165. The controller 171 may control the heater 163 to turn on andoff the heater 163 such that the heater 163 is at a desired temperature.The controller 171 may control the Peltier device 164 to turn on and offthe Peltier device 164 such that the Peltier device 164 is at a desiredtemperature. A target temperature to be achieved by the control oftemperature performed by the controller 171 is not particularly limitedas long as a temperature to be felt by the occupant becomes high duringwinter season, and as long as the temperature to be felt by the occupantbecomes low during summer season. For example, the target temperaturewhere heating is required, such as the winter season, may be about 20degrees centigrade.

The controller 171 may operate each of the inner blow fan 152, the outerblow fan 155, and the front blow fan 158 in accordance with a user'soperation to start an air-conditioning control. Upon theair-conditioning control, the controller 171 may cause each of the innerblow fan 152, the outer blow fan 155, and the front blow fan 158 torotate at low speed. This causes the inner blow duct 151 to discharge,from the inner blow opening 153, a first airflow having been subjectedto temperature adjustment by the temperature controller 161, and causesthe outer blow duct 154 to discharge, from the outer blow opening 156, asecond airflow having been subjected to temperature adjustment by thetemperature controller 161. This also causes the front blow duct 157 todischarge, from the front blow opening 159, a third airflow having beensubjected to temperature adjustment by the temperature controller 161.

The speed of rotation of the inner blow fan 152 may be so set that aflow rate of the first airflow to be discharged from the inner blow duct151 falls within a range from 0.01 meters per second to 6 meters persecond, without limitation. The speed of rotation of the outer blow fan155 may be so set that a flow rate of the second airflow to bedischarged from the outer blow duct 154 falls within a range from 0.01meters per second to 6 meters per second, without limitation. Settingeach of the flow rates to be equal to or less than 6 meters per secondin this way makes it possible to keep a decrease in the temperature tobe felt by the occupant owing to the first airflow and the secondairflow by about one degree centigrade or less. The low-speed firstairflow discharged by the inner blow fan 152 from the inner blow duct151 and the low-speed second airflow discharged by the outer blow fan155 from the outer blow duct 154 may be merged in front of the occupantseated on the navigator's seat 124, e.g., merged above the seatingsection 141, following which the thus-merged airflows may remain infront of the occupant, e.g., merged in the vicinity of the upper body ofthe occupant.

To achieve the merging and the remaining of the airflows, it ispreferable, without limitation, that the flow rate of the first airflowto be discharged from the inner blow opening 153 and the flow rate ofthe second airflow to be discharged from the outer blow opening 156 eachbe at a velocity that allows the first airflow and the second airflow toso travel toward the seating section 141 as to fall onto the seatingsection 141 after the first airflow and the second airflow arerespectively discharged from the inner blow opening 153 and the outerblow opening 156. The details on the flow rate of each of the firstairflow and the second airflow are as described above.

The controller 171 may also cause the front blow fan 158 to rotate atlow speed as described above, making it possible for the front blow duct157 to discharge the third airflow by the front blow fan 158. A flowrate of the third airflow may be higher than the flow rate of the firstairflow to be discharged from the inner blow duct 151 by the inner blowfan 152 and the flow rate of the second airflow to be discharged fromthe outer blow duct 154 by the outer blow fan 155. For example, thefront blow opening 159 may have the width substantially the same as thewidth of the navigator's seat 124, whereby the third airflow dischargedfrom the front blow opening 159 may so travel toward the rear as to havea width equal to or greater than the width of the navigator's seat 124.Thus, the first airflow and the second airflow both remaining in frontof the occupant seated on the navigator's seat 124 may be pushed upwardby the third airflow discharged from the front blow opening 159 by thefront blow fan 158 to thereby travel toward the upper body of theoccupant. The first airflow and the second airflow thus pushed by thethird airflow may so travel toward the rear along the upper body of theoccupant as to cling to the upper body of the occupant.

In particular, the controller 171 may vary the speed of rotation of thefront blow fan 158 within a low-speed range, for example. This allowsfor switchover of the flow rate of the third airflow to be dischargedfrom the front blow opening 159 by the front blow fan 158 between theflow rate that is higher than the flow rates of the first and the secondairflows and a flow rate that is lower than the flow rates of the firstand the second airflows. The first airflow may be discharged from theinner blow opening 153 by the inner blow fan 152, and the second airflowmay be discharged from the outer blow opening 156 by the outer blow fan155. The low flow rate allows the first airflow and the second airflowto remain in the front of the occupant seated on the navigator's seat124, whereas the high flow rate allows the first airflow and the secondairflow remaining in front of the occupant to be moved toward the upperbody of the occupant.

Workings and Effects of Air Conditioner

The air conditioner 102 according to the first configuration example asdescribed above may cause the inner blow duct 151 to discharge the firstairflow weakly, and cause the outer blow duct 154 to discharge thesecond airflow weakly. This allows the first airflow discharged from theinner blow duct 151 and the second airflow discharged from the outerblow duct 154 to merge in front of the upper body of the occupant seatedon the navigator's seat 124 to remain in front of the upper bodythereafter.

Further, the flow rate of the first airflow to be discharged from theinner blow duct 151 and the flow rate of the second airflow to bedischarged from the outer blow duct 154 each may be at the velocity thatallows the first airflow and the second airflow to so travel toward theseating section 141 of the navigator's seat 124 as to fall onto theseating section 141 after the first airflow and the second airflow aremerged. This makes it easier for the first airflow and the secondairflow merged in front of the upper body of the occupant to remain infront of the upper body.

Moreover, the wide third airflow may be discharged weakly from the frontblow duct 157 so provided in front of the navigator's seat 124 as toface the navigator's seat 124. Thus, the first airflow and the secondairflow both remaining in front of the upper body of the occupant maytravel upward along the upper body.

The first airflow and the second airflow both remaining in front of theupper body of the occupant may thereby cling to the upper body, makingit possible to effectively supply, toward the upper body such as theneck and the armpit of the occupant, the airflows that remain in frontof the upper body of the occupant.

It is to be noted that the weak first airflow discharged from the innerblow duct 151 and the weak second airflow discharged from the outer blowduct 154 may both travel toward the front, whereas the weak thirdairflow discharged from the front blow duct 157 may travel toward therear. Thus, the first and the second airflows that travel toward thefront and the third airflow that travels toward the rear may merge toslow down speeds at which the first and the second airflows traveltoward the front and the rear after the merging, making it difficult forthe merged first and second airflows to travel toward the front as wellas toward the rear.

As a result, the speed of the first airflow and the speed of the secondairflow after the merging are kept down effectively, making it easierfor the merged first and second airflows to cling to the upper body ofthe occupant. Hence, it is possible to supply the upper body such as theneck and the armpit of the occupant with the merged first and secondairflows effectively.

Further, the flow rate of the first airflow and the flow rate of thesecond airflow after the merging are kept down effectively, causing themerged first and second airflows to be weak to a large extent. Hence, itis possible to supply the merged first and second airflows toward thefaces, etc., of the occupant while making it difficult for the occupantto feel a sense of discomfort.

Hence, it is possible to adjust the temperature to be felt by theoccupant while restraining a sense of discomfort given to the occupantas with the foregoing first implementation.

In particular, the front blow opening 159 of the air conditioner 102according to the first configuration example may have the widthsubstantially the same as the width of the navigator's seat 124, makingit possible to supply sufficiently, toward the upper body of theoccupant seated on the navigator's seat 124, the merged first and secondairflows by means of the airflow that has the width corresponding to thewidth of the navigator's seat 124. Hence, it is possible to cause themerged first and second airflows to cling to the upper body of theoccupant even more.

The flow rate of the third airflow to be discharged from the front blowduct 157 may be switchable between the flow rate that is higher than theflow rates of the first and the second airflows to be dischargedrespectively from the inner blow duct 151 and the outer blow duct 154and the flow rate that is lower than the flow rates of the first and thesecond airflows. The switchover makes it possible to cause the firstairflow discharged from the inner blow duct 151 and the second airflowdischarged from the outer blow duct 154 to keep on merging with eachother in an intermittent fashion in front of the upper body of theoccupant seated on the navigator's seat 124, and cause the merged firstand second airflows to be supplied toward the occupant continuously.Hence, it is possible to cause the merged first and second airflows tocling to the upper body of the occupant even more. It is to be notedthat causing cooled air to be blown out from each of the inner blow duct151 and the outer blow duct 154 makes it possible to allow the cooledair to cling to the upper body of the occupant, for example.

The temperature controller 161 may allow for warming and the cooling ofthe air, and may be provided inside the console box 126. Thisconfiguration sufficiently reduces a distance from the temperaturecontroller 161 to the inner blow opening 153, i.e., reduces a length ofthe inner blow duct 151, and also sufficiently reduces a distance fromthe temperature controller 161 to the outer blow opening 156, i.e.,reduces a length of the outer blow duct 154. Thus, it is possible tosufficiently suppress a heat loss in each of the inner blow duct 151 andthe outer blow duct 154. Further, providing the temperature controller161 inside the console box 126 allows for installation of thetemperature controller 161 unexposed around the navigator's seat 124.

Hence, it is possible to reduce an amount of energy to be used for theair conditioning, without impairing comfort derived from a factor suchas the temperature to be felt by the occupant.

2-2. Second Configuration Example

A description is given next of the air conditioner 102 according to asecond configuration example.

The air conditioner 102 according to the second configuration examplediffers from the air conditioner 102 according to the foregoing firstconfiguration example, in that the navigator's seat 124 has both theinner blow opening 153 and the outer blow opening 156. A configurationand an operation of the air conditioner 102 according to the secondconfiguration example are similar to those of the air conditioner 102according to the first configuration example, with the exception of aconfiguration and an operation to be described below.

In the following, a description is mainly given on differences betweenthe air conditioner 102 according to the second configuration exampleand the air conditioner 102 according to the first configurationexample. For description purpose, reference numerals same as those usedto describe the air conditioner 102 according to the first configurationexample are used to refer to the like elements.

FIG. 11 illustrates a configuration of the air conditioner 102 accordingto the second configuration example and corresponds to FIG. 9. In otherwords, a flow of air illustrated in FIG. 11 is substantially similar tothat illustrated in FIG. 9.

For example, the inner blow opening 153 may be disposed at a locationthat is on the first side in the width direction of the navigator's seat124, and that is on the backrest section 142 of the navigator's seat124. For example, the outer blow opening 156 may be disposed at alocation that is on the second side in the width direction of thenavigator's seat 124, and that is on the backrest section 142 of thenavigator's seat 124. The backrest section 142 may have a pair ofprotrusions so protruded toward the front as to support the waist of theoccupant while sandwiching the waist from right and left sides. It ispreferable, without limitation, that the inner blow opening 153 beprovided on one of the protrusions, and that the outer blow opening 156be provided on the other of the protrusions.

In the air conditioner 102 according to the second configurationexample, the inner blow opening 153 and the outer blow opening 156 maybe so provided on the backrest section 142 of the navigator's seat 124that the inner blow opening 153 and the outer blow opening 156 aredisposed on the both sides in the width direction of the navigator'sseat 124. The configuration according to the second configurationexample also makes it easier for the first airflow discharged from theinner blow opening 153 and the second airflow discharged from the outerblow opening 156 to merge with each other in front of the upper body ofthe occupant seated on the navigator's seat 124. Thus, discharging theweak first airflow from the inner blow opening 153, the weak secondairflow from the outer blow opening 156, and the weak third airflow fromthe front blow opening 159 may cause the merged first and secondairflows to so travel as to cling to the upper body of the occupant,thereby allowing the upper body of the occupant as a whole to be coveredwith the temperature-adjusted first and second airflows. Thus, thetemperature to be felt by the upper body of the occupant as a whole isadjusted both evenly on right and left sides and totally by means of thetemperature-adjusted first and second airflows, making it possible togive warmth and coldness to the upper body such as the neck and thesides. Hence, as with the air conditioner 102 according to the firstconfiguration example, it is possible to adjust the temperature to befelt by the occupant while restraining a sense of discomfort given tothe occupant.

The air conditioner 102 according to the second configuration exampleprovides both the inner blow opening 153 and the outer blow opening 156on the backrest section 142 of the navigator's seat 124 as describedabove. In an alternative implementation, however, one of the inner blowopening 153 and the outer blow opening 156 may be provided separatelyfrom the navigator's seat 124 as illustrated in FIG. 9. For example, theinner blow opening 153 may be provided on the console box 126 or anyother location other than the navigator's seat 124 as with the airconditioner 102 according to the first configuration example.

Although some preferred implementations of the technology have beendescribed in the foregoing by way of example with reference to theaccompanying drawings, the technology is by no means limited to theimplementations described above. It should be appreciated thatmodifications and alterations may be made by persons skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope as defined by the appended claims. Thetechnology is intended to include such modifications and alterations inso far as they fall within the scope of the appended claims or theequivalents thereof.

1. A vehicle air conditioner, comprising: a first duct having a firstventilation opening that is disposed on a first side in a widthdirection of a seat provided in a vehicle; a second duct having a secondventilation opening that is disposed on a second side in the widthdirection of the seat, the second side being an opposite side of thefirst side; and a third duct having a third ventilation opening that isdisposed in front of the seat.
 2. The vehicle air conditioner accordingto claim 1, wherein one of the first duct and the second duct dischargesan airflow, the other of the first duct and the second duct introducesthe airflow discharged from the one of the first duct and the secondduct, and the third duct introduces the airflow discharged from the oneof the first duct and the second duct.
 3. The vehicle air conditioneraccording to claim 2, further comprising a temperature controllerprovided inside a console box disposed in the vehicle, wherein the firstduct and the second duct are each coupled to the temperature controller,and the airflow discharged from the one of the first duct and the secondduct is warmed by the temperature controller.
 4. The vehicle airconditioner according to claim 2, wherein a flow rate of the airflowdischarged from the one of the first duct and the second duct is withina range from 0.01 meters per second to 6 meters per second.